A Baptism of Judgment in the Fire of the Holy Spirit: John’s Eschatological Proclamation in Matthew 3

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A fresh analysis of the meaning of the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire and John’s baptism as a prophetic sign-act. Expanding upon the sources, grammar and meaning of the Logion, analysing Old Testament and Second Temple texts, and discussing the prevalent theme of judgment in baptism, McManigal offers the first extended treatment of the baptism in the Holy Spirit in Matthew. Drawing out the unique Matthean meaning of the baptism of the “coming one,” McManigal offers readers a new insight into the nature of repenting and prophetic baptism, whether through water, fire or Spirit. As a backdrop for the prevalence of judgment in baptism, McManigal locates Matthew’s eschatological judgment within the broader Old Testament and apocalyptic literature of the Second Temple, drawing upon texts such as Isaiah 11 and the Isaiah Targum, Malachi 3, David 7, 1 Enoch and 4 Ezra. Such analysis allows for closer understanding of how the themes of the Old Testament are woven throughout Matthew’s narrative, capitalizing on John’s role as the last of the prophets sent to Israel; in particular his foretelling the coming of Jesus, Jesus’ rejection of kingship, and his call for repentance in order to prepare people for the arrival of the kingdom of God. Drawing out the unique Matthean meaning of the baptism of the “coming one,” McManigal’s study offers readers a new insight into the nature of repenting and prophetic baptism, whether through water, fire or Spirit. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgments General Abbreviations Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION The Backlighting of Matthew 3:11 The Reason for This Book The Plan of This Book Messianic Eschatology Apocalyptic Conclusion Chapter 2 THE GRAMMAR OF THE LOGION Introduction The Significance of the Preposition’s Repetition? OT Semitisms NT Inquiry NT Parallel Arrangements Alternative Grammatical Options Conclusion Chapter 3 THE MEANING OF THE LOGION Introduction Category #1: An Announcement of Purification Category #2: πνεύματι ἁγίῳ as Grace, πυρί, as Judgment Category #3: Both Positive and Negative within Each Term Evaluation of Category #1 Evaluation of Category #2 Evaluation of Category #3 Eschatological Judgment against Israel The Grammatical Structure of the Logion Conclusion Chapter 4 ISAIAH 11, THE ROOT OF JESSE—THE DAVIDIC KING Introduction Messianic Descendant of Jesse Qumran Romans 15:12 The Isaiah Targum The Nature of the Messianic Rule, vv. 1–9 Messianic Virtues Messianic Judgment Messianic Outcome The People under the Messianic King A Second Exodus Conclusion Chapter 5 MALACHI 3–4, ELIJAH, AND THE DAY OF THE LORD Introduction The Charge The Day of the Lord God’s Response to the Righteous and the Wicked The Fate of the Wicked The Destiny of the Righteous: The New Exodus Healing The Herald of the New Exodus Summary Conclusion Chapter 6 DANIEL 7, THE ONE TO COME: JUDGMENT AND SALVATION Introduction Daniel’s Apocalyptic Vision The Ancient of Days Son of Man 1 Enoch 4 Ezra Summary Conclusion Chapter 7 MATTHEW’S TYPOLOGICAL STORY Introduction Matthew’s Typology Immanuel, God with Us Summary The Shepherd, the Exodus, and the Weeping (Matt 2) Micah and 2 Samuel Hosea 11:1 Jeremiah 31:15 Isaiah 40:3 Conclusion Chapter 8 THE TIME, LOCATION, AND IDENTITY OF THE PROPHET Introduction Inauguration of the End of the Age Ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις and OT Examples Jeremiah Joel Zechariah OT summary 1 Enoch The Significance of the Sentence Conjunction Ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις as Marking a New Period of Time Ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις as Eschatological “Time” Matthew 11:12 Summary John the Baptist as Prophet Matthew’s Presentation of John the Baptist The Profile of προφήτης in Matthew John and Jesus Establishing the Expectation of a προφήτης The Wilderness Wilderness in Matthew Wilderness in the Rest of Matthew Summary Conclusion Chapter 9 THE PREACHING OF JUDGMENT Introduction The Prophetic Word The Language of the Old Testament Prophets OT Prophetic Language—The Backdrop of John’s Summons Why Must Israel Repent? The Kingdom of Heaven The rhetorical function of “the heavens” in Matthew The Problem of Un-repentance Exasperated The Reasons for John’s First Words John’s Rebuke (Matt 3:7–12) Religious Leaders, Vipers, and Satan Fruit of Repentance Appeal to Abraham Trees and Chaff Conclusion Chapter 10 BAPTISM AS THE SIGN-ACT OF JUDGMENT Introduction Survey of Interpretations Semantic Range of βαπτίζω Reflections on the Nature of John’s Sign-Act, Past to Present William Flemington Alec Gilmore Recent Studies Meredith Kline Evaluation of Kline Identifying and Defining Sign-Acts Baptism: John’s Sign-Act The Relationship between the Two Baptisms Conclusion Chapter 11 THE MEANING OF THE JUDGMENT IN THE BAPTISM OF JESUS Introduction The Arrival of Jesus The Question of John The Response of Jesus Righteousness Fulfilled by Judgment The Gift of the Spirit and Old Testament Background The Descent of the Spirit The Role of the Spirit The Description of the Spirit The Heavenly Approbation Psalm 2:7 Isaiah 42:1 The Elaboration of Jesus’s Baptism in the Transfiguration Conclusion Chapter 12 THE JUDGMENT(S) TO COME IN MATTHEW’S GOSPEL Introduction Jesus’s Mighty Words and Deeds: The Reasons for Judgment The Woes of Matthew 11 Summary Matthew 12: Blasphemy against the Spirit The Parable of the Weeds The Parable of the Tenants Summary The Olivet Discourse Summary Jesus and the Judgment Darkness in the OT Darkness in Matthew Conclusion Chapter 13 CONCLUSION Bibliography Index